If thou wouldst learn (theoretical) knowledge, the way of (acquiring) it is oral; if thou wouldst learn a craft, the way of (acquiring) it is practical (by practice).
علم آموزی طریقش قولی است ** حرفت آموزی طریقش فعلی است
If thou desire (spiritual) poverty, that depends on companionship (with a Shaykh): neither thy tongue nor thy hand avails.
فقر خواهی آن به صحبت قایمست ** نه زبانت کار می‌آید نه دست
Soul receives from soul the knowledge thereof, not by way of book nor from tongue.
دانش آن را ستاند جان ز جان ** نه ز راه دفتر و نه از زبان
If those mysteries (of spiritual poverty) are in the traveller's heart, knowledge of the mystery is not yet possessed by the traveller.1065
در دل سالک اگر هست آن رموز ** رمزدانی نیست سالک را هنوز
(Let him wait) until the expansion (illumination) of his heart shall make it (full of) the Light: then God saith, “Did not We expand …?
تا دلش را شرح آن سازد ضیا ** پس الم نشرح بفرماید خدا
For We have given thee the expansion (illumination) within thy breast, We have put the expansion into thy breast.”
که درون سینه شرحت داده‌ایم ** شرح اندر سینه‌ات بنهاده‌ایم
Thou art still seeking it from outside; thou art a source of milk: how art thou a milker of others?
تو هنوز از خارج آن را طالبی ** محلبی از دیگران چون حالبی
There is an illimitable fountain of milk within thee: why art thou seeking milk from the pail?
چشمه‌ی شیرست در تو بی‌کنار ** تو چرا می‌شیر جویی از تغار
O lake, thou hast a channel to the Sea: be ashamed to seek water from the pool;1070
منفذی داری به بحر ای آبگیر ** ننگ دار از آب جستن از غدیر
For did not We expand…? Again, hast not thou the expansion? How art thou become a seeker of the expansion and a mendicant?
که الم نشرح نه شرحت هست باز ** چون شدی تو شرح‌جو و کدیه‌ساز
Contemplate the expansion of the heart within (thee), lest there come the reproach, Do not ye see?
در نگر در شرح دل در اندرون ** تا نیاید طعنه‌ی لا تبصرون
Commentary on “And He is with you.”
تفسیر و هو معکم
There is a basket full of loaves on the crown of thy head, and thou art begging a crust of bread from door to door.
یک سپد پر نان ترا بی‌فرق سر ** تو همی خواهی لب نان در به در
Attend to thine own head, abandon giddy-headedness; go, knock at the door of thy heart: why art thou (knocking) at every door?
در سر خود پیچ هل خیره‌سری ** رو در دل زن چرا بر هر دری
Whilst thou art up to the knee in the river-water, thou art heedless of thyself and art seeking water from this one and that one.1075
تا بزانویی میان آب‌جو ** غافل از خود زین و آن تو آب جو
Water in front; and behind, too, an unfailing supply of water; (but) before thine eyes is a barrier and behind them a barrier.
پیش آب و پس هم آب با مدد ** چشمها را پیش سد و خلف سد
The horse is under the (rider's) thigh, and the rider is seeking the horse. (When asked), “What is this?” he says, “A horse, but where is the horse?”
اسپ زیر ران و فارس اسپ‌جو ** چیست این گفت اسپ لیکن اسپ کو
“Eh, is not this a horse under thee, plain to see?” “Yes,” says he, “but who ever saw a horse?”
هی نه اسپست این به زیر تو پدید ** گفت آری لیک خود اسپی که دید
He (such a one) is mad with thirst for the water, and it (the water) is before his face: he is in the water and unconscious of the running water.
مست آب و پیش روی اوست آن ** اندر آب و بی‌خبر ز آب روان
Like the pearl in the sea, he says, “Where is the sea?” and that shell-like phantasy is his wall.1080
چون گهر در بحر گوید بحر کو ** وآن خیال چون صدف دیوار او
His saying “Where?” becomes for him a screen: it becomes for him a cloud over the radiance of the sun.
گفتن آن کو حجابش می‌شود ** ابر تاب آفتابش می‌شود
His bad (sensual) eye is a bandage on his (inward) eye: his very (awareness of) removing the barrier has become a barrier for him.
بند چشم اوست هم چشم بدش ** عین رفع سد او گشته سدش
His (self-)consciousness has become the plug of his (inward) ear: keep thy consciousness (directed) towards God (alone), O thou who art bewildered in Him.
بند گوش او شده هم هوش او ** هوش با حق دار ای مدهوش او
Commentary on the saying of Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, “Whosoever shall make his cares one care, God will relieve him of all his cares; and whosoever is distracted by his cares, God will not care in what valley He destroys him.”
در تفسیر قول مصطفی علیه‌السلام من جعل الهموم هما واحدا کفاه الله سائر همومه و من تفرقت به الهموم لا یبالی الله فی ای واد اهلکه
Thou hast distributed thy consciousness in (all) directions: those vanities are not worth a cress.
هوش را توزیع کردی بر جهات ** می‌نیرزد تره‌ای آن ترهات
Every thorn-root draws the water of thy consciousness (towards itself): how should the water of thy consciousness reach the fruit?1085
آب هش را می‌کشد هر بیخ خار ** آب هوشت چون رسد سوی ثمار
Hark, smite that evil bough, lop it off: water this goodly bough, refresh it.
هین بزن آن شاخ بد را خو کنش ** آب ده این شاخ خوش را نو کنش